.....because she sure can hide eggs! Yesterday after a fast errand run into town, we got out of the car and heard peeping sounds. Now it had rained hard the night before, so I was wondering what chick had gotten loose, and lost, in the rain. Well, under the carport, under a kid's wagon, was a secret place. One of the Buff Orpington hens had hidden, and after 21 days successfully hatched, 15 chicks! That is a new record for Rock Farm, and they all look alike which is unusual. Usually other of our free range hens will also lay in an already started nest. Even though it was a complication I did not need for my busy morning, who can't smile about new chicks! We caught them and their grumpy mother, and put them in an old empty horse water tank with feed, water, and a hunk of old cattle panel to keep the cats out, although it would take a brave cat indeed to go up against this protective parent. You can't see them all in this pic, some are hiding under her skirts. I can't help but think of the Bible verse, and God's love for us, His hardheaded children:
..."how often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling..."
How utterly adorable! Thank you so much for sharing. I think it is amazing and sweet that she "hid" some of her eggs to hatch.
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